On Tuesday, December 29, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) shared an important update on new federal stimulus legislation. This new legislation, recently passed by Congress, may impact the unemployment benefits for Minnesotans. Effective December 27, 2020, the legislation will provide: Eleven more weeks of benefits under the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) program. Eleven more weeks […]
Action taken at the December 22 County board meeting
The following motions were approved at the Cook County Commissioners December 22 meeting: * Following the recommendation to the Revolving Loan Committee, the board approved a $4,000 Revolving Loan to the Banadad Trail Association to purchase a Polaris Ranger UTV that will help maintain the trail system. *Commissioners approved an agreement with Pictometry International to provide four annual installments of […]
Minnesota Power reaches fifty percent renewable energy milestone to lead Minnesota utilities
Minnesota Power customers are now receiving half of their energy from renewable sources as the company becomes the first Minnesota utility to deliver fifty percent renewable energy to customers. The achievement highlights the success of Minnesota Power’s Energy Forward strategy to transition to cleaner energy sources while meeting customer expectations for reliable and affordable electricity. The company reached this milestone […]
Woman who abandoned child alongside road has a troubled history
The 39-year-old Waupaca, Wisconsin, woman who abandoned her six-year-old daughter alongside Highway 61 in Grand Portage on December 10, will have a review hearing on trial on February 22. Two grand Portage men, Daniel Deschampe Sr. and Delwyn Wilson, found the child standing barefoot alongside the highway. Her mother, Jaydin Daniel Pankow, had abandoned the girl without proper winter clothing, […]
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
Ruby’s Pantry Cook County Ruby’s Pantry, 2nd Tuesday of the month food distribution 4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m., $20 (cash only) Sponsored by Spirit of the Wilderness Church. You will be amazed at all the food you get at the Cook County Community Center. No financial or other qualifications—this is surplus food for all! Cook County Higher Education Career training […]
Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus
Christmas was different this year. It wasn’t all of us together with lots of commotion as you could imagine in a house filled with 37 residents plus family and staff. We had individual household parties in our multi-purpose room where the Activity staff and many different departments decorated trees. We got to judge the 14 or so Christmas trees all […]
Dispose of holiday greens and Christmas trees correctly to protect Minnesota’s urban and rural trees
Holiday greenery brings joy and delight, but is there a humbug lurking in your décor? Trees and boughs can provide diseases and invasive species the perfect ride into our landscape. Pests of concern include elongate hemlock scale, a small insect established in the eastern U.S. where many decorative Fraser firs are grown. Feeding damage from this invasive insect can cause […]
Basketball practice to start
According to Cook County High School Athletic Director Mitch Dorr, boys’ and girls’ basketball practice will start on January 11, with no timetable as to when games will be played. However, that timetable may be moved up for the Vikings because on Monday, December 28, the Minnesota State High School League announced that coaches could open practice for high school […]
2021 Gunflint Mail Run Sled Dog Race canceled
One of the county’s most popular spectator activities won’t happen this January. The popular Gunflint Mail Run Sled Dog Race that starts and finishes at Trail Center on Poplar Lake has been canceled for 2021. It wasn’t an easy decision to make. Still, the Gunflint Mail Run Sled Dog Race board members decided that in the best interest of keeping […]
Norpine Fat Bike Classic will be held this January with a twist
The Norpine Fat Bike Classic is on, which is great news for the throngs of riders who want to participate and ride through stands of old growth cedar on the Pisten Bully groomed trail in Lutsen. Due to COVID-19, however, this year the classic will be held from January 23 to January 31, 2021 and the event will be an […]